Friday, October 26, 2018

This
will be the fourth time that we have offered this program, and we look forward
to having you join us in September. Our groups are small and our aim is to take
you away from the major tourist destinations to meet and experience the unique
culture of this wonderful country located in the heart of The Caucasus. We will
concentrate on introducing you to Georgia’s unique and passionate culture, and
to visiting some of the most remarkable countryside in Europe.

Old Tbilisi

October 07: Arrival
in Tbilisi, and transfer to our accommodation. Arrival times in the Georgian
capital may appear slightly eccentric, with many flights arriving between 0200
and 0300. Your rooms will be available from the afternoon of October 6th,
and you will be met and transferred to the hotel regardless of the arrival
time.

October 08:There
will be an optional walking tour at 10.00am for those who are up and ready that
will explore the quirky center of Old Tbilisi; we will see the city from each
side of the River and have an introduction to the remarkable stories of the
early days of this strategically important town. Lunch will be at iconic wine
bar, Vino Underground, for our first introduction to the glories of Georgian
wine.

October 09:The
morning will be free to rest and adjust to the time zone, or explore the
surrounding areas on your own. In the afternoon we will head out to Tbilisi to
explore the Old Capital of Mtskheta and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
This cathedral, founded in 1010, is one of the most sacred places in the
country and is a fine introduction to the importance of the Georgian Orthodox
church in the Georgian soul. Lunch at restaurant Dzveli Armazi in Mtskheta. Free
time. Dinner at Café Literra, the home of the well-known chef Tekuna
Gachechiladze.

Mtskheta, Georgia's old capital city

October 10: Today we will leave the capital
behind and head west. First to the unremarkable town of Gori, made famous only
because of its native son, Stalin. We shall visit the extraordinary, and rather chilling museum to his life before continuing over the Likhi mountains to
Kutaisi, with one stop in the Kvaliti village to meet and taste the wines of
Archil Guniava and finally arrive to Tskaltubo, our overnight stop. This resort
was built in the 1970s as a resort exclusively for high-ranking Soviet Naval
offices, and is makes a delightful and unique place to stay.

October 11:Today we climb the mountains.
After a coffee stop in Zugdidi, we will drive up the Svaneti Valley to Mestia.
This region is special, even by Georgian standards! The communities that
populate this valley are distinct and historically fiercely independent. We
will see some dramatic scenery, gorgeous mountains and villages that have been
here since the dawn of time. Finally, we will reach Mestia, the regional
capital and now a center for hiking, skiing and a variety of other
mountain-based activities.

October 12:Ushguli is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site; it is extremely remote and life here is redolent of the middle
ages. It has a collection of dramatic medieval towers, and lying as it does at
2,300m, it is the highest populated community in Europe. We will have time to
explore the village in some detail, and if the weather is clear, have a
dramatic view of Georgia’s highest mountain, Shkhara which towers some 5,100m
over the landscape.

Svaneti - an ancient part of an ancient nation

October 13:Today we head back down the
mountain to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city, and an important provincial capital.
It is blessed with a two UNESCO sites, and we will visit one, the Gelati Monastery, built in the early 1100s by King David. It is not only an
architectural masterpiece, but also an important center of learning for
centuries, and one of the first schools in the region.

October 14:Today is a “Driving Day”; we shall start
the morning in the local market before driving east. We will stop for lunch at
Iago’s Winery, a charming family wine producer in the Kartli region. Iago’s
wine is remarkable, and his was the first winery in the country to receive a
bio-certificate for his vineyard and production.

Skirting Tbilisi, we will enjoy the three-hour drive toward the Azeri
border, and our next stop, this time for three nights, at Sighnaghi,

October 15:There are many opportunities for
sightseeing in this quirky town; we will spend time in the morning exploring
the town itself before driving a few kilometers away to visit the 9th
century monastery of Bodbe. It now functions as a nunnery, and is one of the major
pilgrimage sites in Georgia.

Following a short rest, we will have our dinner, a traditional Georgian
Supra, at Pheasants’ Tears. This restaurant and winery is one of the most
vibrant in the country, and an exciting place to meet some of the finest
Georgian wine, cuisine and be introduced to the unique polyphonic music.

Pheasants' Tears Dinner

October 16: We will spend today exploring the region
of Kakheti; we will see the main town of Telavi, and later visit the unusual
and quite remarkable winery of Alaverdi. Visit the monastery, and we will
continue towards Alazani where we will visit the family of young and
enthusiastic wine maker Shota. He is from the mountains of Tusheti, and will
cook Tushetian cuisine paired with the natural wines from the grower. Drive
back to Sighnaghi, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in
Sighnaghi

October 17:We will drive back to Tbilisi today and
have time in the afternoon for some independent sightseeing before our farewell
dinner at Azarpesha, a unique cultural restaurant in the center of Tbilisi’s
Old City.

October 18:Your departure from Georgia. Once again
your flight may have an early departure time, but your room will be available
to rest in prior to your airport transfer.

The
Price:

US$2,940
per person, based on sharing a double room. The supplement for a single room is
US$745.

The price includes:

·Four nights in Tbilisi at the Iota
Hotel

·Three nights in Sighnaghi at the Hotel
Kabadoni

·One night in Tskaltubo

·Two nights in Mestia and the Hotel
Tetnuldi

·One night at the Hotel Argo in Kutaisi

·Daily breakfast and lunch and ten
dinners

·Five wine tastings and two folkloric
performances

·All entrance fees and excursions as
detailed on the itinerary

·Transportation by coach throughout,
with 4WD vehicles for the day excursion to Ushguli

·Fully escorted by a local Georgian
guide and “MaxGlobetrotter”

·Airport transfers

·All local taxes

The price excludes:

·Items not specified in the itinerary

·Items of a personal nature

·Optional gratuities

·Credit card processing fees

To Book:

Reservations are handled by Top of the World Travel in Yellowknife,
Canada. A non-refundable deposit of US$750
per person is required to confirm your reservation with the balance due no
later than August 15, 2019.

To request a booking form please email me at max@ttjtourism.com.

All payments, once made, are non-refundable,
and we recommend that you consider travel insurance to cover any losses
incurred by cancellation for unforeseen reasons. Full details are available
from the agency.

The tour will be strictly limited to twenty
participants, and early confirmation is highly recommended.

Additional nights’ accommodation in Tbilisi is
available for US$75/person in a
double room, and US$120 for a single
room should you wish to arrive early or to extend your stay.

Extension programs, on an individual basis to
Armenia and/or Azerbaijan are also available upon request.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Sixty-five years of occupation by the
Soviet Union has left an indelible impact on Georgia. A fantasy economic
system, archaic infrastructure and deeply peculiar and repressive social
systems are now being erased, but their legacy lives on.

This unique tour program aims to
introduce visitors to some of the more obvious of these legacies; bizarre cable
cars, crumbling factories, Soviet-era health resorts and more. It is a
fascinating glimpse into the near past, and a reflection of an economic and
political system that leaves many scratching their heads. Join us to look
back at this fascinating period of 20th century history.

September
23: Arrival
in Tbilisi, and transfer to the Hotel Citrus. Arrival times in the Georgian
capital may appear slightly eccentric, with many flights arriving between 0200
and 0300. Your rooms will be available from the afternoon of September 23rd, and you will be met and transferred to the hotel regardless of the
arrival time.

September 24: Following breakfast we will explore the
historic part of Tbilisi; we will walk in the old part of the town visiting the
bath house area, Narikala castle and Maidan Square. Later we will visit the Tbilisi Metro for a ride towards Soviet part of Georgian capital where we will visit buildings
built in late 1960’s and 70 ‘s as massive residential blocks. After lunch we
will head to the National Museum of History which includes an exhibition of
Soviet Occupation dedicated to the victims of Soviet regime. Dinner will be at the Funicular restaurant built in 1930’s

Souvenirs at the Museum

September 25: This morning we will drive to Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The
centerpiece of the town is the Stalin Museum; here you will see the house
where he was born, the train carriage he used during the WWII and the massive
museum building where a variety of memorabilia are kept.

After the
museum continue trip towards Chiatura, an industrial town in west Georgia.
Important due to heavy manganese production, Chiatura has been heavily
industrialized. The fascinating cable car system has not been touched since
1954. Brave ones in the group will be able to enjoy a ride in one of the metal cable cars. We will continue towards
Kutaisi and stay overnight at the restored soviet naval officers’ spa at
Tskaltubo.

The Cable Cars of Chiatura

Tskaltubo

September 26: After breakfast we will tour the Tskaltubo
resort. Founded in 1925 the town was one of the very first resorts built in the
Soviet era. Numerous hotels and sanatoriums were built during first half
of the 20th century, and they became one of the most popular elements
of Soviet Health Tourism among all levels of Soviet society. Some of the buildings have been
abandoned after 1990’s but they still have amazing charm. We will visit couple
of these former sanatoriums before returning to Tskaltubo for our overnight
stop.

September 27: In the morning we will head towards South
Georgia; after short drive and couple of stops, we will arrive in Borjomi, another famous resort. Borjomi is a charming town that sits
on the green slopes of Lesser Caucasus, with 65 % of its territory covered by
forest. The main attraction of the town is its thermal waters. Ancestors of
present Georgians knew the positive qualities of these springs and used it for medicinal
purposes. The waters became popular for Russian Empire in late 19th
century, and the government began building palaces, parks, public gardens and
hotels to accommodate incoming tourists and patients. Renowned figures such as
Anton Chekhov, Pyotr Tchaikovsky as well as members of the royal Russian family
were among the common visitors of the springs. We will be able to taste these
waters and enjoy a stroll in the garden. We will stay overnight here at the Borjomi Palace Hotel.

Borjomi; the park and some old children's "attractions"!

Iago and Marina

September
28: This morning
we will drive back towards Tbilisi. Along the road visit Uplistsikhe, a spectacular ancient
cave town dating from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The famous “Fortress of God” is first
mentioned in the chronicles of the 1st century A.D. Carved into the
rocky plateau you will find huge echoing halls, long meandering
corridor-streets, chambers for pagan worship, water supply system, secret
tunnel, market and the remains of Georgia’s oldest theatre, complete with
auditorium, stage and orchestra pit. Later drive to village Chardakhi where you
will meet the local vintner Iago Bitarishvili. We will visit the cellar, taste his
rare Chinuri wines and enjoy a delicious lunch cooked by the family. After short drive we are back in
Tbilisi.

September 29: We will spend whole day in Tbilisi today, and visit the Car Museum, with a small but fascinating collection of old Soviet cars. Lunch will
be at a local restaurant and later we will visit the flea market, where many
old and fascinating items of the Soviet period are sold by a myriad of street
vendors. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a the Azarpesha restaurant, and enjoy Georgia’s unique polyphonic singing.

The Group: This tour will be marketed worldwide and will have participants from several countries and will be conducted exclusively in English. We will restrict participation to a maximum of eighteen people so early booking is highly recommended.

Terms: A non-refundable deposit of $750 is required to confirm your place on the tour. The balance will be due no later than 45 days prior to departure. Once paid, all monies will be non-refundable, and we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover any potential issues that might otherwise cause you to lose money.

Well, this time I am going to use my blog to announce two unique tour programs that will be offered by the Tbilisi-based travel company Living Roots and escorted by MaxGlobetrotter! Needless to say, I am very excited by the opportunity to work with Living Roots once again, and to return to Georgia in September.

We will be offering two programs: our Classic Georgia: Food, Wine and Culture, and a brand new tour, "Georgia's Soviet Legacy". Each will be quite fascinating, and will dig deep into the life, history and culture of Georgia. As regular followers of my blog will know, I am passionate about Georgia, and love working with the folks at Living Roots to offer a unique perspective on this unique country. Our tours will be limited to eighteen people, nine couples; early booking is essential.

This will
be the fourth time that we have offered this program, and we look forward to
introducing you to the fascinating and surprising country of Georgia this
September. Recognised by National Geographic as one of the tours that one must take in a lifetime, we are pretty proud of the itinerary.Our groups are small and our aim is to take you away from the major
tourist destinations to meet and experience the unique culture of this
wonderful country located in the heart of The Caucasus.

September 10: Arrival in Tbilisi, and transfer to our accommodation confirmed for three nights at the Citrus Hotel. Arrival
times in the Georgian capital may appear slightly eccentric, with many flights
arriving between 0200 and 0300. Your rooms will be available from the afternoon
of September 10th, and you will be met and transferred to the hotel
regardless of the arrival time.

Vino Underground

September 11: There will be an optional walking tour at 10.00 am for those who are
up and ready that will explore the quirky center of Old Tbilisi; we will see
the city from each side of the River and have an introduction to the remarkable
stories of the early days of this strategically important town. Lunch will be
at 1.00 pm, and later in the afternoon we shall wander over to the iconic wine
bar, Vino Underground for our first introduction to the glories of Georgian
wine.

Mtskheta

September 12: The morning will be free to rest and adjust to the time zone, or
explore the surrounding areas on your own. In the afternoon we will head out to
Tbilisi to explore the Old Capital of Mtskheta and Svetitskhoveli
Cathedral. This cathedral, founded in 1010, is one of the most sacred places in
the country and is a fine introduction to the importance of the Georgian
Orthodox church in the Georgian soul.

September 13: Today we will leave
the capital behind and head west. First to the unremarkable town of Gori, made
famous only because of its native son, Stalin. We shall visit the
extraordinary, and rather chilling museum to his life before continuing over
the Likhi mountains to Kutaisi and finally to Tskutalbo, our overnight stop.
This resort was built in the 1970s as a resort exclusively for high-ranking Soviet
Naval offices, and is makes a delightful and unique place to stay.

September 14: Today we climb the
mountains. After a coffee stop in Zugdidi, we will drive up the Svaneti Valley
to Mestia. This region is special, even by Georgian standards! The communities
that populate this valley are distinct and historically fiercely independent.
We will see some dramatic scenery, gorgeous mountains and villages that have
been here since the dawn of time. Finally, we will reach Mestia, the regional capital
and now a center for hiking, skiing and a variety of other mountain-based activities.

September 15:Ushguli is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site; it is extremely remote and life here is redolent of the middle
ages. It has a collection of dramatic medieval towers, and lying as it does at
2,300m, it is the highest populated community in Europe. We will have time to explore
the village in some detail, and if the weather is clear, have a dramatic view
of Georgia’s highest mountain, Shkhara which towers some 5,100m over the
landscape.

Ushguli - High in the Great Caucasus

September 16: Today we head back
down the mountain to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city, and an important
provincial capital. It is blessed with a two UNESCO sites, and we will visit
one, the Gelati Monastery, built in the early 1100s by King David. It is not
only an architectural masterpiece, but also an important center of learning for
centuries, and one of the first schools in the region.

September 17: Today is a “Driving
Day”; we shall start the morning in the local market before driving east. We
will stop for lunch at Iago’s Winery, a charming family wine producer in the
Kartli region. Iago’s wine is remarkable, and his was the first winery in the
country to receive a bio-certificate for his vineyard and production. Skirting Tbilisi, we
will enjoy the three-hour drive toward the Azeri border, and our next stop,
this time for three nights, at Sighnaghi,

September 18: There are many opportunities
for sightseeing in this quirky town; we will spend time in the morning
exploring the town itself before driving a few kilometers away to visit the 9th
century monastery of Bodbe. It now functions as a nunnery, and is one of the
major pilgrimage sites in Georgia.

Following a short
rest, we will have our dinner, a traditional Georgian Supra, at PheasantsTears. This restaurant and winery is one of the most vibrant in the country,
and an exciting place to meet some of the finest Georgian wine, cuisine and be
introduced to the unique polyphonic music.

September 19: We will spend today
exploring the region of Kakheti; we will see the main town of Telavi, and later
visit the unusual and quite remarkable winery of Alaverdi. Here, wine has been
made by the monks continuously since the year 1011, and they have got it right!
We will enjoy a tasting here before returning to our hotel in Sighnaghi for our
final evening in the Georgian countryside. Dinner will be at a local
restaurant.

September 20: We will drive back to
Tbilisi today and have time in the afternoon for some independent sightseeing
before our farewell dinner at Azarpesha, a unique cultural restaurant in the center
of Tbilisi’s Old City.

September 21: Your departure from Georgia.
Once again your flight may have an early departure time, but your room will be
available to rest in prior to your airport transfer. Please note that for those joining our Soviet Legacy tour, this will begin on September 23, giving you a day to relax and enjoy Tbilisi on your own.

Transportation by coach throughout, with 4WD
vehicles for the day excursion to Ushguli

Fully escorted by Tamara Natenadze and “MaxGlobetrotter”

The price excludes the following:

Items not specifically mentioned in the
itinerary

Items of a personal nature

The Group: This
tour will be marketed worldwide and will have participants from several
countries and will be conducted exclusively in English. We will restrict participation to a maximum of eighteen people so early
booking is highly recommended.

Terms: A
non-refundable deposit of $750 is required to confirm your place on the tour.
The balance will be due no later than 45 days prior to departure. Once paid,
all monies will be non-refundable, and we highly recommend that you purchase
travel insurance to cover any potential issues that might otherwise cause you
to lose money.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

I rarely, if ever, escort groups; however, Georgia is a country designed for group tours, and it is probably my favourite destination in the world, so this September I am leading a small group to explore the Wine, Food and Culture of this remarkable country.

We will start, as always, with our arrival in Tbilisi, the country's capital, and following a chance to sleep for a few hours, throw ourselves into the fray. From our hotel we will wander up to the marvellous Vino Underground restaurant where we will have our introduction to the myriad complexities that make up the Georgian wine mosaic.

A leisurely walk through Old Town, and dinner at the spectacularly located Kopala Restaurant will round out the day.

We head out of Tbilisi the next day to visit the ancient capital of Mtskheta, the undeniably chilling Stalin Museum, the wonderful vineyard run by my friend Iago and finally to the Tskaltubo Spa. This spa, formerly the recreation facility for high Soviet military folk, is being refurbished and gradually brought back to life; it houses some truly remarkable historical legacies, and is a fascinating stop.

We continue through the Svaneti Valley to Mestia, the commercial hub of this remote mountain district, and the home of a truly remarkable collection of early Christian artefacts and icons in the national museum. We spend a day travelling by 4WD to Ushguli, a UNESCO heritage site, and a destination recently featured by National Geographic

Following two remarkable days in the highlands, we will return to Kutaisi, the second city of the country, and enjoy time wandering in the Old Town before dinner and our overnight stay.

From Kutaisi, we follow the ancient path of the Silk Road, as we travel past Tbilisi to the rich agricultural lands of Kakheti in Georgia's east. We cross the Likhi Range en route, the mountains that separate the watershed to the Black or Caspian Seas. We will stop along the way, before reaching our overnight stop at Chateau Mere.

Our overnight accommodation will be at the Kabadoni hotel in Sighnaghi, and dinner at Pheasants Tears, a restaurant that I love, and is run by two great friends, John Wurderman and Gia Rokashvili.

We have a gentle day around this gorgeous town before returning to Tbilisi for the final two nights, and some more sightseeing, wandering, a chance to visit the ancient bath-houses and certainly to shop for some memories of this extraordinary trip.

So, enough of the commercial! The tour is limited to eighteen passengers, the weather will be fantastic, the company convivial and our local colleagues at Living Roots are the most brilliant travel company in Georgia.

It will be an ideal journey, and I look forward to having you join! For more information, please feel free to email me at max@gctravel.ca